Cork hurling league scorers: Darragh Fitzgibbon, Brian Hayes and Declan Dalton top charts
Brian Hayes was in top form against Clare and has hit 4-7 so far in the league. Picture: INPHO/James Lawlor
With just one game left in the regular league, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Cork's best player alongside Niall O'Leary and Tim O'Mahony in recent weeks, remains on top of the scoring charts.
Patrick Horgan is back on free-taking duty though and Declan Dalton and Brian Hayes have been on the goal trail, so it might not stay that way after the Galway match on Saturday.
There should be another 20,000-plus crowd in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for that encounter, especially with a league final place up for grabs. Tipp are assured of qualification ahead of hosting relegated Clare.
We could get a Cork-Tipp league final for the first time since 1960, the Rebels without a title since 1998, losing finals in 2002, 2010, '12, '15 and '22. Tipperary haven't been league winners in 17 years and have also been beaten in five deciders since that 2008 success.
Galway's last league triumph was in 2017, when they swept all before them and Limerick collected the league three times, in 2019, '20 and '23, across this golden era.
A league and a decent run in the All-Ireland series would constitute progress for Tipp and Galway, given neither made it out of their provinces last summer, but for Cork and Limerick, it's Liam MacCarthy or bust.
Cork's form has been good, notwithstanding a very flat showing up in Thurles.
Hayes looks to have gone up a level, his combination of ball-winning, deceptive pace and clever finishing was seen at its most dangerous against Clare. Tim O'Mahony has been a ferocious presence in the middle third, setting the tone from the throw-in.
Dalton missed two games with a suspension and still blasted 3-11 in the other three ties. Patrick Horgan is 37 in May but still moving well and as hungry as ever for the battle.
Cork have been missing a host of big names for the majority of the league, including Seamus Harnedy, Mark Coleman and Alan Connolly who are all available again, but the starting 15 is taking shape for Cusack Park on Easter Sunday.
Collecting the league between here and then would be a welcome bonus.
Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-26 (0-17 f, 0-1 65);
Declan Dalton 3-11 (1-0 pen, 0-4 f, 0-1 65);
Brian Hayes 4-7;
Patrick Horgan 0-16 (0-10 f, 0-1 65);
Shane Barrett 2-7;
Diarmuid Healy 1-6;
Padraig Power 1-4;
Ethan Twomey 0-6;
Tim O'Mahony 0-3 (0-1 f);
Brian Roche 0-2;
Shane Kingston 0-2;
Robbie O'Flynn 0-2;
Seán O'Donoghue 0-1;
Luke Meade 0-1;
Seamus Harnedy 0-1;
Jack O'Connor 0-1;
Tommy O'Connell 0-1;
Ciarán Joyce 0-1;
Micheál Mullins 0-1;
Cormac O'Brien 0-1.
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